Electrical-circuit control



Nov. 4 1924. 1,514,088

W. B. KENNEDY ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTROL Filed Oct. 23 a 1922 I 1 IntE7171?- lg 17 .2 5 Wa/ferfi Ken/7:24

2K QWW 5 if) Patented Nov 4, 1924. I

- UNITED STATES WALTER n. KENNEDY, or SAN FRANCISCO, cALInonNIA.

ELECTRICAL-CIRCUIT CONTROL.

Application filed October 23, 1922. Serial No. 596,515.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknownfthat I, WALTER B. KENNEDY,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of SanFrancisco and State of California, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in an Electrical.-

Circuit Control, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in [0 controlling devices forelectrical circuits whereby the flow of current through an electricalelement may be regulated to meet the varied requirements.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved circuitcontrol.

Another object is to provide an improved device whereby the flow ofcurrent to an electrical element may be varied through wide limits. I

A further object of my invention is toprovide an improved device of thecharacter described for cutting a desired amount of resistance into acircuit and arranged to permit the resistance to be entirely cut out ofthe circuit when desired.

A still further object is to provide animproved device wherein a singleslidable contact may be utilized for introducing a variable resistanceinto a circuit through an electrical heating element and for breakingthe circuit through the resistance independently of the circuit. throughsaid element.

Another object is to provide a device in which a single slidable elementmay be ance into( a circuit through an electrical heating element andfor breaking the circuit through said resistance and heating elementsimultaneously or independently as desired.

A further object is to provide an imutilized for introducing a variableresistcontrol device with one-half of the housing removed.

Fi 4 3 is a transverse section taken upon the line 33 of Fig. 2 in thedirection indicated.

Fig. 4 is a broken side elevation showing the manner in which thecircuit is broken when the contact is moved to one extreme position.

Fig. 5 is a convention wiring diagram of the electric circuit. 2

Referring to the drawings the/numeral 1 is used to designate aresistance coil wound upon a suitable. core 2. The ends of the coil 1are connected to contacts 3 which are normally ngagedby spring contacts4 secured upon opposite ends of the core in any convenient manner. Aconductive bar 6 is mounted in spaced parallel relation to the coil 1,this being accomplished in the preferred construction shown in thedrawings by securing the bar between flanges 7 formed at the endsof thecore 2. tact-member'8 is slidably mounted upon the her 6, said member 8being provided with an extension 9 arranged to form electrical contactwith the coil 1 at any point along the adjacent side thereof.

The coil 2 is preferably enclosed in a housing 11 made of insulatingmaterial and formed in recessed halv'es secured together by screws 12 orother suitable securing means. The housing members are groove as at 14 uon their inner sides to receive the flanges of the core 2 and therebyhold the core and coil in a fixed position w th n the housing. Recesses16 are formed within the matching edges upon one side of the housingmembers to accommodate the bar 6 and contact member 8 and to form a slot15 between the housing members when assembled through which a pin 17carried by the contact member 8 extends. A button 18 is secured upon theouter end of the pm 17 by which the pin and the contact memher 8 may bemoved relatively to the 0011 2. The spring contacts 45 are so arrangedas to be engaged by the contact member 8 and moved out of contact withthe contacts 3 when the member 8 is moved to the corresponding extremeposition alon the bar 6. Springs 19 are mounted within the slot 15 toengage the pin 17 and retam the contact member 8 in either extremeposition for a purpose hereinafter explained.

Aconllhe control auove described is intended to be connected into thecircuit through an electrical element wherein itis desired to regulatethe flow of current and is particularly useful in connection withelectri- I cal heating and lighting appliances. In the drawings I haveshown the applica tion of the device in connection with an electric flatiron 21 as one illustration of the principle andutility of theinvention. In this application, the device is connected through a plug23 or other suitable connection to a source of electrical energy, not

shown, connection being made in the fol-' which is attached to the iron21 is connected to the conductive bar 6 from which electrical connectionis made upon the coil 1 by means of the sliding contact member 8 andthence tothe source of energy through the cord 22 and plug 23.

The operation of my invention is as folloyvs: The control device beingconnected into the cord as above described and the electrical applianceconnected to the source of electrical energyvrin the usual manner, theflow of current through the appliance will be dependent upon theposition of the sliding contact member relative to the resistancecoil 1. If We assume the contact 8 to be in the extreme left hand end ofthe coil it will be seen that the contact 8 will engage the springcontact at and the path of the current through the appliance 21 will beby way of the bar 6,"contact 8, and spring contact 1 and the conductorsconnected thereto. In this osition it will appear that the resistancecod 1 would be connected in parallel with the appliance 21. and both theresisting coil and the appliance would receive the full line voltage,and the full efiect of the appliance be obtained. In this connection theflow of current through the coil 1 would be entirely wasted as nobeneficial result would be obtained. To avoid such Waste of energy Ihave arranged the contact -member 8 in such manner that when movedslightly further to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thespring contact a will be moved out of connection with the coil 1 andthecircuitthrough the resistance coil thereby broken. The spring 19 isarranged to engage the pin 17 and hold the contact member 8 in thisextreme position so thatthe circuit through the resistance coil willremain broken and the circuit through the appliance 21 operate in theusual manner.

hat oss, J

If it is desired to reduce the flow of current through the appliance 21as when it is desired to maintain a lower degree of heat the contactmember 8 is moved to engage the coil 1 at the desired point. In thisconnection it will be noted that the resistance coil will be connectedpartly in parallel and partly in series with the appliance, the portionof the coil. in series depending upon the position of the contact member8, relative thereto, only the last three laminations being thusconnected when the contact is in the position shown in full lines inFig. 2 of the drawings.

As a member 8 is moved further to the right it will be noted that as theend of the coil is' approached substantially all of the coil will be inseries with the appliance 21 and the flow of current therethrough willbe accordingly diminished until at the extreme end of the coilconnection will be made back upon the wire 2/1 through the springcontact 4 and its connections. When the contact member 8 is in thisposition there will be no voltage drop across the appliance 21 and as aresult no current will flow and there will be no heating effect obtainedwhateven- Under these conditions the current would, of course, continueto flow through the resistance coilf In order to break the circuitthrough the coil I have so arranged that a further movement of thecontact 8 Will operate to move the spring contact 4; out of engagementwith its contact 3 and thereby break the circuit through the resistancecoil as well as through the appliance21. The pin. 17 is engaged and thecontact member 8 held in th extreme position shown in dotted lines inFig. 4 of the drawings by a, spring 19 in the same manner as at thefirst described limit of movement. When the appliance is not in use thecord 22 should be disconnected from the source of energy at the plug 23in order to prevent an inadvertent movement of the contact 22 such asmight result in a con-- tinped consumption of power through the coi 1.

The cord 22 is introduced into the housing 11 through apertures 28 inthe ends thereof and securely connected in the manner described, thusbecoming a permanent part of the usual cord. The housing and coil may bemade of an extremely light and compact construction especially adaptedto household requirements. VVhileI have illustrated my invention asapplied in connection with an elec Letters Patent is:

1. An electrical circuit control comprising a resistance coil havingopposite ends thereof connected to feed and return conductors connectedto a source of electrical energy, one of which conductors is connect edwith an electrical heating element; a contact slidably mounted adjacentthe resistance and arranged to be moved relative thereto to formelectrical connection therewith at various points therealong, saidcontact being electrically connected to the; heating element whereby acircuit may be completed through said heating element and a desiredportion of the resistance.

2. An electrical circuit control comprising a resistance coil havingopposite ends thereof connected to feed and return conductors connectedvto a source of electrical energy, one of which conductors is connectedwith an electrical heating element; a contact slidably mounted adjacentthe resistance and arranged to be moved relative thereto to formelectrical connection therewith at various points therealong, saidcontact being electrically connected to the heating element whereby acircuit may be completed through said heating element and a desiredportion of the resistance; and means for breaking. the circuit throughthe resistance independently from the heating element.

3. An electrical circuit control comprising a resistance coil havingopposite ends thereof connected to feed and return conductors connectedto a source of electrical energy one of which conductors is connectedwith an electrical heating element 1; a contact slidably mountedadjacent the resist ance and arranged to be moved relative thereto toform electrical connection therewith at'various points therealong, saidcontact being electrical connected to the heating element whereby acircuit may be completed through said heating element and a desiredportion of the resistance; and means actuated by the sliding contact forbreaking the circuit through the resistance and the heating element.

4. An electrical circuitcontrol comprising a resistance; spring contactsnormally connecting opposite ends of said resistance with feed andreturn conductors connected with a source of electrical energy; and acontact slidably mounted adjacent the resistance and movable relativethereto to engage said resistance at various points therealong, saidcontact being electrically connected to a heating element receiving oneof the conductors, whereby a circuit may be completed through saidheating element and a desired portion of the resistance; said slidablecontact being arranged to actuate the spring contact at one end of theresistance to break the circuit through said resistance independentlyfrom the heating element.

5. An electrical circuit control comprising a resistance; springcontacts normally connecting opposite ends of said resistance with feedand return conductors connected with a source of electriral energy; anda contact slidably mounted adjacent the resistance and movable relativethereto to engage said resistance at various points therealong, saidcontact being electrically connected to a heating element receiving oneoi the conductors, whereby a circuit may be completed through saidheating element and a desired portion of the resistance, said slidablycontact being arranged to actuate the -spring contact at one end of theresistance to break the circuit through said re sistance independentlyfrom the heating element, and also arranged to actuate the springcontact at the other end of the coil to break the circuit through boththe heating element and the resistance.

6. An electrical circuit control comprising a resistance coil; a springcontact mounted at one end of the coil and arranged to normally connectsaid end with one of a pair of conductors connected to aheating element,

said conductor being also connected to a source of electrical energy; aconductive rod mounted in slightly spaced parallel relation to theresistance coil, said conductor being connected to the other of theconductors connected to the heating element; and a contact slidablymounted upon the conductive rod and arranged to normally form electrical contact with the coil at various points therealong to complete acircuit through the heating element and a desired portion of the coil,said contact being arranged to engage and form electrical connectionwith the spring contact at one end of the resistance coil and to movesaid spring contact out of contacting relation with the coil forindependently breaking the circuit through the resistance when moved oneextreme position, and also arranged to engage the spring contact at theother end-of the coil and move said contact out of contacting relationwith the resistance coil and break the current through the resistanceand the heating element when said slidable contact is moved to its otherextreme position.

7. An electrical circuit control comprising a resistance 0011; a springcontact mounted at one end of the coil and arranged to normally connectsaid end with one of a pair-of conductors connected to a. heatingelement, said conductor being also connected to a source of electricalenergy; a conductive rod mounted in slightly spaced parallel relation tothe resistance coil, said-conductorbeing connected to the other of theconductors connected to the heating element; a contact slidably mountedupon the conductive rod and arranged to normally form electrical contactwith the coil at various points therealong to complete a circuit throughthe heating element and a desired portion of the coil, said cont-actbeing arranged to engage and form electrical connection with the springcontact at one end of the resistance coiland a resistance coil; a spring"contact mounted at one end of the 0011 and arranged to normally connectsaid end'with oneot apair of conductors connected to a source ofelectrical energy; a conductive rod mounted in slightly spaced parallelrelation to. the resist-ancecoil, said conductor being connected to theother otthe conductors connected to a heating element; a contactslidably mounted upon the conductive rod and arranged to normally formelectrical contact with the coil at various points therealong tocomplete a circuit through the heating element and a desired portion ofthe coil, said contact being arranged to engage and form electricalconnection with the spring contact at one end of the resistance coil andto move said a nature. with the coil for independently breaking thecircuit through the resistance when spring contact out of contactingrelation moved one extreme position, and also arranged to engage thespring contact at the other endof the coil and move said contact out ofcontacting relation with the resistance coil and break the currentthrough the resistance and the heating element when said slidablecontactis moved to its other extreme position; and a housing arranged toenclose the coils and the several contact- 1 ing elements; and meansextending through a slot formed in the/side of the housing for operatingthe slidable contact.

9. An electrical circuit control comprising a resistance coil; a springcontact mounted at one endof the'coil and arranged to normally connectsaid end with oneof a pair of conductors connected to a source ofelectricalenergy; a conductive rod mounted in slightly spaced parallelrelation tovthe resistance coil, said conductor being con-' nected tothe other of the conductors connected to a heating element; a contactslidably mounted upon the conductive rod and arranged to normally formelectrical contact with the coil at various points therealong tocomplete a circuit through the heating element and adesired portion ofthe coil, said contact being arranged to engage and form electricalconnection with the spring contact I at one end of the resistance coiland. to move said spring contact out of contacting relation with thecoil for independently breaking the circuit through the resistance whenmoved one extreme position, and also arranged to engage the springcontact at the other end of the coil and move said contact out ofcontacting relationwith the resistance coil and break the currentthrough the resistance and the heating element when said slidablecontact is moved to its other extreme positionpa housing arranged toenclose the coils and. the several contacting elements; means extendingthrough a slot formed in the side of the housing for operating theslidable contact; and1means for retaining the slidable contact in eitherextreme position.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my sigwAL'rEn B. K NNEDYQ I i I

